Best time to plant luffa in Australia
Luffa species
Also called loofah, loofa, Chinese okra
Eaten young as a vegetable, luffa is the fruit of a vine in the pumpkin and gourd family. Once fully ripe it turns too fibrous for the table, but the mature fruit can be processed down to its fibre network and used as a sponge for the bath or kitchen.
On a shared plot: needs a lot of room
A big climber that needs a strong frame. Check where its shade will fall.
When to sow
| Zone | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Oct to Dec | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Temperate | Sep to Dec | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Subtropical | Aug to Mar | Matches local guides |
| Tropical | Feb to Sep | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
| Arid | Aug to Mar | Not yet checked against a local guide |
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Raise seedlings, then transplant
- Sowing depth
- 15mm
- Plant spacing
- 50cm
- Row spacing
- 25cm
- Height
- 900cm
- Germination
- 14-21 days at 25-30°C
- Frost
- Frost tender
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- annual
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.